Influence of Gender Role on Resilience and Positive Affect in Female Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Women experience more social barriers, gender stereotypes, biases, and discrimination than men, which can increase their vulnerability to mental health problems. Therefore, it is essential to adopt a gender perspective in research on nursing students, examining the impact of these factors on their well-being and psychological resources like resilience. This study aims to analyze the relationship between gender roles in resilience and positive or negative affect among female nursing students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with first- and fourth-year female nursing students at a public university in Madrid, Spain. Sociodemographic variables, positive and negative affect (PANAS scale), resilience (CD-RISC scale), and gender roles (BRSI inventory) were analyzed. ANOVA, correlation analysis, and linear regression models were used to study the relationships between variables. Results: The study included 338 students with a mean age of 21.43 years, of which 80.2% had a high level of resilience, with a positive affect score of 31.96 (SD: 7.34) and a negative affect score of 22.99 (SD: 7.35). Overall, 48.5% had undifferentiated roles, 23.7% feminine roles, 14.2% androgynous roles, and 13.6% masculine roles. Female students with masculine and androgynous roles showed higher resilience levels (93.48% and 97.92%) compared to those with feminine and undifferentiated roles (81.25% and 70.73%) (p < 0.001). Female students with androgynous and masculine roles showed higher positive affect levels compared to those with feminine and undifferentiated roles (p < 0.001), with no differences in negative affect. These results were observed in both first- and fourth-year students. A high correlation was found between masculine roles and positive affect and resilience in both first- and fourth-year students. Conclusions: Gender roles influence positive affect and resilience in females. Among female nursing students, androgynous and masculine roles are associated with higher levels of resilience and positive affect compared to feminine and undifferentiated roles. Differences in psychological well-being may be related to socially constructed gender roles rather than biological sex, with masculine roles enhancing resilience and feminine roles correlating with greater vulnerability.